Disposable syringe package



P 1968 o. ROSENBERG ETAL 3,401,695

DISPOSABLE SYRINGE PACKAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 15, 1965 INVENTORS Dav/0 fibselvacee BY Lou/s Mama-1 P 1968 D. ROSENBERG ETAL 3,401,695

DISPOSABLE SYRINGE PACKAGE Filed Sept. 13. 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Dav/o Sasewaeee BY Lou/.5 lea/van United States Patent 3,401,695 DISPOSABLE SYRINGE PACKAGE David Rosenberg, 4635 Matilda Ave., Bronx, N.Y. 10470, and Louis Miranda, 34 Coach Lane, Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Filed Sept. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 486,951 8 Claims. (Cl. 128-232) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A disposable package for storing a medicinal solution and for expelling the solution into a body cavity comprises a compressible container for the solution having an elongated nozzle hingedly connected to one of its ends for insertion into a body cavity and being swingable to a stored position extending toward the other container end, and a sheath hingedly connected to the other container end and being swingable to a stored position lying against the container where it can enclose the nozzle in its stored position. The nozzle has an elongated bore through which the contents of the container can be expelled upon compression of the container, and a valve is provided within the somewhat elastic nozzle which is selectively manip ulatable to position the valve for either closing the bore or permitting the outflow of solution therethrough.

This invention relates generally to a disposable package for storing a medicinal solution and for selectively dispensing the medicinal solution within a body cavity, and more particularly to a disposable syringe which includes a container for storing the medicinal solution and an integral elongated nozzle for dispensing the medicinal liquid within a body cavity and adapted for such uses as douching, enemas, and any other uses which require the dispensing of a medicinal solution within a body cavity.

In recent years people in this and other countries have begun to travel extensively and to spend more and extended periods of time away from home. This has resulted in an ever increasing demand for packages which can store and dispense single uses or dosages of various liquid preparations and which could be discarded after being used. For women who travel there is a particular need for a small and compact disposable syringe which can store and dispense single doses of a medicinal solution commonly used for douching. This need is particularly acuate in those areas of this and other countries where toilet facilities are not readily available.

In prior art attempts to provide a disposable syringe for storing and dispensing single uses or doses of medicinal solutions for uses such as douching or enemas, it has been common practice to either package the container and nozzle separately, or to package these components as an integral unit with the nozzle attached to and extending in the same plane as the container. The disadvantage with such prior art disposable syringes is that excessive handling of several parts is required with the contents packaged separately, and where the several parts are assembled as an integral package the result is an unwieldly, cumbersome and massive package. This is undesirable for travelling and particularly unfitted for use by women who desire a disposable syringe which may be carried in a small pocketbook and which may be stored in such manner as not to indicate the intended use of the package.

In view of the foregoing it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a disposable syringe for storing and for selectively dispensing within a body cavity a medicinal solution for uses such as douching, in which the package is small and compact and does not have the outward appearance of a syringe.

Another object of the present invention is to provide 3,401,695 Patented Sept. 17, 1968 a disposable syringe which has formed integrally therewith an elongated nozzle or tip for dispensing the medicinal solution Within a body cavity, the nozzle being folded over the container during storage to form a compact package which does not resemble a syringe.

A further object of the present invention is. to provide a disposable syringe and an integral nozzle in which a valve is incorporated within the container for preventing any undesired flow of solution from the container and which may be instantaneously activated to permit the quick and rapid flow of solution from the container through the nozzle and. into a body cavity.

These and further objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one embodiment of the invention which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts in the several views are identified by the same reference numerals.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the disposable syringe of the present invention, the various parts being shown in a position where the syringe is being prepared for storage;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of the disposable syringe of the present invention with the disposable syringe being shown in its assembled storage position;

FIG. 4 illustrates on an enlarged scale a valve which may, if desired, be used for refilling the container forming part of the disposable syringe of the present invention, the valve being shown in a closed position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and illustrates the valve in its open position with the container being filled with the medicinal liquid;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 77 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a cross-section of the elongated nozzle of the disposable syringe of the present invention and illustrates a valve in such nozzle positioned to permit the free flow of liquid from the container through the nozzle and into the body cavity;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 and illustrates the nozzle valve in its closed position;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 and illustrates the valve positioned to allow filling of the container through the nozzle, and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-section taken on the line 1111 of FIG. 9.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1 there is illustrated the disposable syringe of the present invention. The disposable syringe includes a container 10 for storing the medicinal solution, an elongated nozzle or tip 11 attached to one end of the container 10 for directing the medicinal solution from the container 10 into a body cavity, and a sheath 12 which is attached to the end of the container 10 opposite the nozzle 11, the sheath being used to protect and store the nozzle 11 when the disposable syringe is not in use.

The container 10 is preferably a thin walled bag like enclosure which is flexible so that it can be compressed to expel the contents from the container 10 through the nozzle 11 and into the body cavity. One end of the container 10 has attached thereto or preferably formed integrally therewith a tab 13 which is made from the same resilient material as the container 10. This permits the tab 13 to be bent so that it is at right angles to the conainer 10 as illustrated in FIG. 6 for a purpose to be presently described.

One side of the tab 13 is provided with an opening 14 to which an elongate nozzle or tip is attached. The tab 13 is in fluid communication with the interior of the container and therefore when the container 10 is compressed medicinal solution will flow from the container 10 into the tab 13 and through the opening 14 in the tab 13 and into the nozzle 11. The nozzle 11 is preferably made from a plastic material such as the container 10 and is somewhat stiffer than the container 10 but has some flexibility.

The sheath 12 extending from the end of the container 10 removed from the tab 13 may be formed integrally with container 10 or attached thereto. The sheath 12 is preferably made from the same plastic material as the container 10 and is formed internally with a lengthwise pocket 15 into which the nozzle 11 is inserted through an opening 16 formed in the inner wall 17 of the sheath 12.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3 the disposable syringe of the present invention is a compact package in which all of the component parts of the syringe are assembled into one unit. In assembling the disposable syringe of the present invention the nozzle 11 and sheath 12 are folded in the direction indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1 so that the nozzle 11 and sheath 12 are eventually parallel to and lying adjacent to the inner wall 18 of the container 10 as illustrated in FIG. 3. During this operation the nozzle 11 is inserted in the opening 16 formed in the sheath 12 so that the nozzle 11 enters into and is surrounded by the pocket 15. The disposable syringe package then has the appearance illustrated in FIG. 3. As illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 6 the tab 13 is inserted through the opening 16 in the sheath 17 to secure the package together. In this manner the disposable syringe of the present invention is compact and can be carried in a small handbag and since the nozzle 11 is not exposed it is sanitary and does not have the outward appearance of a syringe.

The nozzle 11 may take any desired shape and in the form illustrated in the drawings is intended for insertion in the vagina for douching. For this reason the tip 20 of the nozzle 11 is provided with peripheral openings 21 through which the medicinal solution can flow. It is to be understood that the nozzle 11 may take any desired shape depending upon the use for the disposable syringe, the nozzle being preferably shaped to fit the body cavity into which it is to be inserted. The tip 20 of the nozzle is preferably threadably connected to its stem as illustrated in FIG. 7 so that difierent sizes and shapes of nozzles can be used.

The inner end of the nozzle 11 adjacent to tab 13 is formed with a valve identified in general b the numeral 22. The purpose of the valve 22 is three-fold.

(1) To seal the medicinal solution 23 within the container 10 so that it cannot in any way flow or seep into the nozzle 11. This setting of the valve 22 is illustrated in FIG. 9 and permits safe storage and transport of the disposable syringe of the present invention.

(2) To permit the free flow of the medicinal solution 23 from the container 10 into the tab 13 and from there into nozzle 11 and out through the openings 21 in the tip 20 of the nozzle 11. This setting of the valve is illustrated in FIG. 8.

(3) To permit medicinal solution 23 to be inserted in the container 10. In one form of the invention this is accomplished by injecting medicinal solution under pressure through the openings 21 in the tip 20 of the nozzle 11, through the valve 22 and the tab 13 into the container 10. This setting of the valve is illustrated in FIG. 10.

The nozzle 11 is formed with a longitudinal bore 24 which is sealed at the tip 20 of the nozzle 11, the other end of the bore 24 communicating with the tab 13 and consequently with the interior of the container 10. The portion of the bore 24 adjacent the end or extremity 29 remote from the tip 20 is enlarged to form an annular recess 25. Positioned within the recess 25 and adapted to 4 move freely therein is a ball 26. The ball 26 has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the recess 25 so that the ball is movable in the recess 25, but the ball 26 has a diameter greater than the diameter of the bore 24 extending outwardly from recess 25.

The recess is defined between inner shoulders 27 and outer shoulders 28. In assembling the disposable syringe of the present invention after container 10 has been filled with medicinal solution 23 the ball 26 is moved, pushed, or pressed past the inner shoulders 27 and into the inner extremity 29 of the bore 24 which has a diameter suflicient to receive the ball 26 therein. This is done by compressing the nozzle 11 adjacent to the recess 25 so that the recess 25 is reduced or constricted in diameter thereby forcing the ball 26 past the inner shoulder 27 and into extremity 29. This is illustrated in FIG. 9 and as shown in this figure the side of extremity 29 leading into the tab 13 is reduced in diameter as at 31, to normally prevent the ball 26 from leaving the extremity 29 of bore 24 and entering the tab 13. When the ball is in this position as illustrated in FIG. 9 the medicinal solution 23 in the container 10 is prevented from entering the bore 24 in the nozzle 11 by engagement of ball 26 with the seat defined by shoulder 27.

When it is desired to use the disposable syringe of the present invention the extremity 29 of the bore 24 is compressed thereby reducing the diameter of extremity 29 and forcing the ball 26 past the inner shoulder 27 and into the recess 25. After the ball 26 has been disposed in recess 25, the container 10 may be squeezed for forcing liquid from the container 10 through the tab 13, the opening 14, the extremity 29 and past the inner shoulder 27 into the recess 25. The liquid then forces the ball 26 against the outer shoulders 28 as illustrated in FIG. 8. The outer shoulders 28, however, are formed with radial openings 30 as illustrated in FIG. 11. The medicinal solution 23 accordingly flows from the recess 25 past the ball 26 and through the radial openings 30 in the outer shoulders 28 and along the bore 24. The medicinal solution then flows from bore 24 through the openings 21 formed in the nozzle 11 and into the body cavity into which the nozzle 11 has been inserted.

When the container 10 is initially filled at the factory, or if it is for some reason desired to refill it after once being used, it is possible to do so by proper adjustment of the valve 22. In order to accomplish this, pressure is applied to the bore 24 through the openings 21 of the nozzle 11 forcing the ball 26 past the constricted end 31 of the extremity 29 and into the tab 13. As illustrated in FIG. 10 when the ball 26 leaves the extremity 29 it rests against a flexible diaphragm 32 which is placed across the opening 14 between the tab 13 and the extremity 29 of the nozzle 11. The diaphragm 32 is formed with a plurality of openings 33 so that it is foraminated and thereby constitutes a cage to receive the ball 26 while allowing the free passage of medicinal solution 23 therethrough. When the valve is in the position illustrated in FIG. 10 the tip 20 of the nozzle 11 is inserted into a medicinal solution which is under pressure. The medicinal solution is accordingly forced through the openings 21 into the bore 24. The liquid fiows through the bore 24, the recess 25 and the extremity 29 and into the tab 13 through the foraminated diaphragm 32 and thence into the container 10. Once the container 10 is filled the ball 26 is again forced into the extremity 29 to seat against the shoulder 27 thereby closing the valve 22 and preventing the escape of liquid 23 from the container 10.

Another method of filling the container 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 the end of the container 10 removed from the tab 13 is provided with a valve 33. The valve 33 connects the interior of the container 10 with the pocket 15 in the sheath 12. The valve 33 consists of a resilient plug 34 formed with a plurality of openings 35 extending therethrough. The side of the valve 33 facing towards the interior of the container 10 is provided with a resilient closure flap 36 which normally seats against the plug 34 as illustrated in FIG. 4 thereby sealing the openings 35 and preventing the flow of medicinal liquid through the valve 33.

When it is desired to fill the container medicinal solution under pressure is forced into the pocket of the sheath 12. The pressure of the medicinal solution flowing through the openings 35 and pushing against the closure flap 36 forces the closure flap 36 away from the plug 34 as illustrated in FIG. 5. When this occurs the liquid is free to flow through the openings 35 and into the interior of the container 10. When medicinal liquid under pressure is no longer present in the pocket 15 the closure flap 36 returns to its closed position as illustrated in FIG. 4 thereby closing the valve 33. The medicinal liquid 23 within the interior of the container 10 also exerts a pressure against the closure flap 36 forcing the closure flap 36 with even greater pressure against the plug 34 thereby insuring that the valve 33 remains closed.

Still another arrangement for filling the container 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, in which the end portion of container 10 remote from tab 13 is provided with an opening 37 having an outwardly projecting neck 38 extending therearound. The opening 37 is normally closed by a plug 39 which may be integrally connected to the container by a flexible strip 40 and which is formed with a bead 41 engageable in ,a groove 42 in the interior of neck 38 for avoiding inadvertent removal of plug 39 from the opening.

In assembling the disposable syringe of the present invention the various parts are interconnected or formed integrally to form the unit illustrated in FIG. 1. The nozzle 11 and the sheath 12 are then swung in the directions indicated by the arrows on FIG. 1 towards the inner wall 18 of the container 10. During this movement of the nozzle 11 and the sheath 12 the end of the nozzle 11 is inserted in the opening 16 in the sheath 12 and into the pocket 15. This operation is continued until both the nozzle 11 and sheath 12 are pressed against and parallel to the inner wall of the container 10 as illustrated in FIG. 3. It can therefore be seen that the disposable syringe of the present invention is compact, lightweight, ,and when properly assembled will not have the appearance of a syringe.

When it is desired to use the syringe of the present invention the syringe is made operable by removing the nozzle 11 from the pocket 15 in the sheath 12. If desired the pocket 15 may have a lubricant therein which will rub off on the nozzle 11. The nozzle 11 is then inserted within the body cavity and the extremity 29 is compressed forcing the ball 26 past the inner shoulders 27 and into the recess 25, as shown on FIG. 8. The container 10 is then compressed forcing the medicinal solution therein into the tab 13, through the opening 14 into the recess 25, through the radial openings in the outer shoulder 28 and through the openings 21 and into the body cavity.

If desired the container 10 is then rescaled by moving the ball in the manner previously described into the position illustrated in FIG. 9. The nozzle can then be safely removed from the body cavity without fear of any medicinal solution dripping from the nozzle 11. The disposable syringe can then be disposed of or if desired refilled through the valves 22 or 33 or through the opening 37.

What has been described is a disposable syringe which is inexpensive to manufacture since it is primarily made from plastics which are non-toxic and will not react with .the medicinal solution. The disposable syringe is lightweight, compact, and does not have the appearance of a syringe. It is to be understood that although embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated this has been merely for purposes of illustration and not as limiting the invention for which reference should be made to the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A disposable package for storing a medicinal solution and for selectively expelling the contents of said package into a body cavity, said package comprising a normally closed container for storing said medicinal solution, said container being made of a compressible material whereby said container may be compressed to expel said solution therefrom, said container having opposed ends, an elongated nozzle attached to and extending from one of said ends of said container, elongated sheath means attached to and extending from the other of said ends of said container, said sheath means being hingeably connected to said container whereby said sheath can be swiveled to extend toward said one end of said container and rest against said container, valve means for selectively interconnecting said nozzle with the interior of said container, said nozzle having an aperture in the end removed from said valve means and having some elasticity whereby said nozzle can be inserted in a body cavity, and said nozzle being hingeably connected to said container and laterally disposed with respect to the latter for alignment with said sheath means whereby said nozzle can be swiveled toward said other end of the container and inserted in said sheath means for enclosure by the latter with both said nozzle and sheath means being substantially parallel to and resting against said container.

2. A disposable package for storing a medicinal solution and for selectively expelling the contents of said package into a body cavity, said package comprising a container for storing said medicinal solution, said container being made of a compressible material whereby said container may be compressed to expel said solution therefrom, an elongated nozzle attached to and extending from one end of said container, said nozzle having an aperture in the end removed from said container and having some elasticity whereby said nozzle can be inserted in a body cavity, said nozzle having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough and interconnecting said aperture in said nozzle with the interior of said container, a portion of said bore being enlarged to form an annular valve body, a ball loosely disposed within said valve body, the end of said valve body downstream from said container having a shoulder forming a valve seat for said ball, said shoulder having openings therein whereby when said ball is seated on said valve seat said solution can flow past said ball and through said openings, and said ball having a greater diameter than said bore whereby when the walls of said valve body are compressed and said ball is forced from said valve body into said bore upstream therefrom solution cant flow from said container and when said walls of said bore adjacent said ball are compressed said ball is forced from said bore into said valve body thereby permitting solution to fiow through said valve, and said nozzle being hingeably connected to said container whereby said nozzle can be swiveled to a position parallel to and resting against said container.

3. A disposable package for storing a medicinal solution and for selectively expelling the contents of said package into a body cavity, said package comprising a container for storing said medicinal solution, said container being made of a compressible material whereby said container may be compressed to expel said solution therefrom, an elongated nozzle attached to and extending from one end of said container, said nozzle having an aperture in the end removed from said container and having some elasticity whereby said nozzle can be inserted in a body cavity, said nozzle having a bore extending longitudinally therethrough and interconnecting said aperture in said nozzle with the interior of said container, a portion of said bore being enlarged to form an annular valve body, a ball loosely disposed within said valve body, the end of said valve downstream from said container having a shoulder forming a valve seat for said ball, said shoulder having openings therein whereby when said ball is seated on said valve seat said solution can flow pas-t said ball and through said openings, and said ball having a greater diameter than said bore whereby when the walls of said valve body are compressed and said ball is forced from said valve body into said bore upstream therefrom solution cant flow from said container, and when said walls of said bore adjacent said ball are compressed said ball is forced from said bore into said valve body thereby permitting solution to flow through said valve, sheath means attached to and extending from the end of said container spaced from said nozzle, said sheath means being hingeably connected to said container whereby said sheath can be swiveled to a position parallel to and resting against said container, and said nozzle being hingeably connected to said container whereby said nozzle can be swiveled toward and inserted in said sheath whereby said nozzle is enclosed in said sheath and both said nozzle and sheath are substantially parallel to and resting against said container.

4. A disposable package for storing a medicinal solution and for selectively expelling the contents of said package into a body cavity, said package comprising a container for storing a medicinal solution, said container being of a compressible material so that it can be compressed for expelling the solution therefrom, an elongated, somewhat elastic nozzle attached, at one of its extremities, to said container and extending longitudinally therefrom for insertion in a body cavity, said nozzle having an aperture adjacent its other extremity and a longitudinal bore for communicating the interior of said container with said aperture, said bore having an end portion of enlarged diameter at said one extremity of the nozzle and an annular recess of still larger diameter interposed between said end portion and the remainder of said bore, said recess being delimited by an inner shoulder between said end portion and said recess and an outer shoulder between said recess and said remainder of the bore, and a ball valve member snugly received in said end portion of the bore and to seat against said inner shoulder for preventing the inadvertent flow of solution from said container through said bore to said aperture, said ball valve member being forcible past said inner shoulder into said recess for free movement in the latter, said outer shoulder having passages therein through which solution can flow past said ball valve member when the latter is disposed in said recess against said outer shoulder.

5. A disposable package according to claim 4, in which said container has opposed ends, said nozzle is hingedly connected to said container at one of said ends of th latter for swinging relative to the container from an extended operative position to a stored position in which said nozzle extends toward the other of said ends of the container and lies close against the latter, and sheath means is hingedly connected to said container at said other end of the latter for swinging from an extended position with respect to the container to a stored position at which said sheath means extends toward said one end of the container and lies close against the latter, said sheath means being disposed in the lateral direction in alignment with said nozzle to have the nozzle stored therein when said sheath means and nozzle are in said stored position thereof.

6. A disposable package according to claim 4, in which a foraminated cage is provided at the opening of said end portion of the bore into said container, and said ball valve member can be forced from said end portion of the bore into said cage to permit filling of said container by way of said bore.

7. A disposable package according to claim 4, in which said container has a filling opening therein remote from said nozzle, and check valve means are provided in said filling opening to permit flow therethrough only in the direction into said container.

8. A disposable package according to claim 4, in which said container has opposed ends, said nozzle is hingedly connected to said container at one of said ends of the latter for swinging relative to the container from and extended operative position to a stored position in which said nozzle extends toward the other of said ends of the container and lies close against the latter, sheath means is hingedly connected to said container at said other end of the latter for swinging from an extended position with respect to the container to a stored position at which said sheath means extends toward said one end of the container and lies close against the latter, said sheath means is disposed in the lateral direction in alignment with said nozzle to have the nozzle stored therein when said sheath means and nozzle are in said stored positions thereof, a filling opening is provided from said sheath means into said container at said other end of the latter, and check valve means are provided in said filling opening to permit flow therethorugh only in the direction into said container, whereby said container can be filled by way of said sheath means when the latter is in said extended position thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 937,311 10/1909 Leyner 128-227 1,955,008 4/ 1934 McGee l502.1 2,044,912 6/ 1936 Miller 128-227 2,568,915 9/1951 Friedman 128224 2,784,716 3/1957 Broman 128'227 2,827,902 3/ 1958 Thorp l28-227 2,854,982 10/1958 Pagano l28348 RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

R. L. FRINKS, Assistant Examiner. 

